Other Publications
Baseline Assessment of Sequestered Standing Carbon in Mahausakande Regenerating Rainforest
January, 2012. Ekanayake, S.P., Fernando, R.H.S.S., and Bambaradeniya, C.N.B. Mahausakande Tropical Rainforest Regeneration Initiative. Research Paper No. 2. 32 pages
Summary
Understanding of standing carbon stock in forest trees is an important knowledge base for management decision making for forest regeneration programmes aimed at mitigating climate change, biodiversity loss, sociological and hydrological issues.
This study examined forest carbon storage in tree biomass of above 1cm DBH in a regenerating forest stand located in Mahausakande (6076’68.9”N-80025’38.4”E) with a history of rubber cultivation. Permanent plots measuring 10m x 10 m were set up in 13 locations in the study site. Woody plants in plots were enumerated for height, DBH and number of individuals. Plants were identified by species, and organic carbon in biomass was estimated by using the allometry equation.
The results revealed that the regenerating forest stand in Mahausakande had a relatively lower level of forest carbon amounting to 1030.2 MT in a 15.3 ha area (67.7 MT/ha), in comparison to well developed rainforests. The dominant species having a high carbon concentration included Hevea brasiliensis, Alstonia macrophylla and Alstonia scholaris. The floristic features as well as the above ground carbon content of this area is indicative of the fact that the forest cover is currently in an intermediate stage of succession, thus demanding suitable restoration interventions in future to accelerate natural succession and storage of carbon.
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Keywords: a. Forest Carbon Science, m. MRV, Other Publications, Asia, carbon sequestration, forest regeneration, plant biomass, Sri Lanka, standing carbon